The Spain connection ... inspired by stay

Arab Times

2 days ago

Roy Casagranda, Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies, is considered one of the most dedicated Western scholars in Islamic sciences and studies. He is passionate about Muslim and Arab scholars and deeply appreciative of their contributions to Western civilization.
Since 1995, Professor Roy served as a lecturer in government sciences at Austin College in Texas. His research focuses on the intersection of politics, history, economics, psychology, and philosophy. He is a valued lecturer and regards himself as an expert on Middle Eastern affairs. He wrote for nearly two years for 'Mahnameh', an Iranian reformist monthly magazine, until it was shut down by the authorities. He has also contributed to American newspapers about the Arab Spring.
Fluent in several languages, including Arabic and German, he has lived in Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, England, and several other Middle Eastern countries. I have previously written about the feelings of friendliness, or at least acceptance, that Arabs experience in Spain, especially in Andalusia, compared to the rest of Europe.
The name Andalusia is an Arabic adaptation of the name of the Germanic Vandal tribe, which settled in the region between 409 and 429 AD. Their Latin name was Vandalusia. Andalusia, along with the other 16 Spanish provinces, enjoys autonomous rule and governs its own affairs with broad powers. Muslim Arabs ruled Andalusia and large parts of the other provinces for nearly eight centuries, until the fall of Granada in 1492. During this period, Andalusia witnessed a cultural, scientific, and civilizational flourishing.
The era of Arab rule is considered one of the golden ages in the region's history, though it was also marked by episodes of brutality, murder, and unrest, particularly within the Arab kingdoms themselves. Professor Roy explains that the first large waves of settlers in Andalusia came from Yemen and Syria, along with Carthaginians (from Tunisia), Germans, and Celts. Over time, the population began to speak a language that was a mix of Arabic and Latin, wear Arab clothing, and embrace Arab customs.
Yet, they still considered themselves Europeans, often disregarding their earlier origins. This sparked a movement of separation or segregation from their roots and anything associated with the Arabs, frequently deliberate. They even attempted to erase Arabic words from their dictionaries, though many remained in use, visible today in the names of cities, foods, and other cultural elements. This highlights the difficulty, if not near impossibility, of fully separating the two cultures. Professor Roy believes that the Spanish hatred toward Muslims was primarily religious. Had the Arabs been Christians, they might have been received more favorably. With the exodus of Muslims from Andalusia, the war to expel them began violently, often led by outsiders.
Over time, people sought to establish distinctions between European Spaniards and Spanish immigrants, Arabs, or former Muslims. They found their answer in skin color, creating a kind of hierarchy based on skin tones to determine who was Muslim, who was a 'pure' Christian, and who was closest to Islam. Darker skin was associated with Arabs and Muslims, while lighter skin was linked to Europeans. From Spain, the idea of racial discrimination based on skin color spread like cancer throughout the rest of Europe. I would like to express my gratitude to the government of Spain, represented by its distinguished Ambassador to Kuwait, for its honorable stance on the Palestinian issue, which deserves our appreciation and respect.